System and method to increase production from a borehole

ABSTRACT

A borehole system including a completion in a borehole; an interval of the borehole having a plurality of productivity zones therein, at least one of the zones being a lower productivity zone and at least one of the zones being a higher productivity zone; a pump connected to the at least one lower productivity zone of the interval and configured to bring production from the lower productivity zone to a production capacity of the higher productivity zone of the interval.

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry there is often need to balance flow from multiple zones in order to avoid premature breakthrough of undesirable fluids from areas having a higher productivity index. Such breakthroughs are damaging to the well and deleterious to overall production from the particular formation. Commonly, inflow control devices are used to restrict inflow from higher productivity zone thereby avoiding breakthrough in those areas. While wells employing the above noted paradigm work well, the industry is always receptive to efficiency increases.

SUMMARY

A borehole system including a completion in a borehole; an interval of the borehole having a plurality of productivity zones therein, at least one of the zones being a lower productivity zone and at least one of the zones being a higher productivity zone; a pump connected to the at least one lower productivity zone of the interval and configured to bring production from the lower productivity zone to a production capacity of the higher productivity zone of the interval.

A method for increasing production from a borehole including determining a productivity index for at least two zones of a plurality of production zones in an interval of the borehole; operably coupling a pump to at least one of the plurality of production zones that exhibits a lower productivity index than at least one zone of the plurality of production zones that exhibits a higher productivity index; and boosting production through the pump of the lower productivity zone to produce at a rate of the higher productivity zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

The FIGURE is a schematic elevation view of a wellbore having a plurality of zones of differing productivity index, and a system as taught herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the FIGURE.

Referring to the FIGURE, system 10 optionally including a filtration arrangement 11 is illustrated within a borehole 12 in a formation 14. The formation 14 has a plurality of zones therein, referred to herein as zone A, B, C, D, etc. in an interval 16 of a completion system 18. The plurality of zones will have at least one with a lower productivity index, i.e. lower than the productivity index of another zone in the interval 16. Specifically, of those plurality of zones, at least one will have a higher productivity index than at least one other, the “other” accordingly having a lower productivity index. In the FIGURE, zones B and D are lower productivity zones and A and C are higher productivity zones. This is merely for example. It is to be appreciated that the optional filtration arrangement 11 may be any conventional filtration arrangement including but not limited to conventional screens, premium screens, memory polymer screens, bead screens, etc. and further that each zone may have different screens or none at all.

As noted above, the difference in productivity indexes would be traditionally addressed by installing an inflow control device at the higher productivity index zone to restrict productivity therefrom to more closely match the productivity from the lower productivity index zone while allowing maximum potential flow from the lower productivity zone or zones. For simplicity of discussion the four zones are discussed herein but it will be understood that there may be any number of zones greater than 1 in the interval 16 and one or more of them may have differing productivity indexes. Regardless of the actual number of zones, the interval will be enhanced in production through use of this disclosure.

The teaching herein upends conventional practice in that higher productivity index zone(s) is/are not throttled with an inflow control device but rather specific low productivity zones (one or more of them) are directly boosted in productivity through the use of applied low pressure at the inlet port 20 of the lower productivity zone. This is generally accomplished by disposing a pump 22 at the inlet port 20 of the lower productivity zones of the borehole 12 and connecting the pump inlet to the inlet port 20 so that pump action is directed specifically through the inlet port 20 to which the pump is attached. Pumps contemplated include electric submersible pumps, magnetohydrodynamic pumps, etc. The pumps will bring the lower productivity zones B and D to a production regime that matches the higher productivity zones A and C. In a multizone well interval, one embodiment hereof will place pumps at each of the lower productivity zones to bring each one of them up to the productivity of one of the higher productivity zones, that zone possibly being the highest higher productivity zone. In an embodiment, each pump may be configured to boost flow by a different amount to raise different lower productivity zones independently to all equal the higher productivity zone target level. Configured as such, overall production from the multiple zones would not be matched to the lowest productivity zone in the group as would have been the case in the past but rather overall production from the interval 16 would be dictated by the highest productivity zone in the interval 16 due to all of the lower productivity zones being brought up to the production of the highest productivity zone. This will ensure a maximum overall productivity from the interval 16.

In embodiments, all lower productivity index zones in an interval are provided with individual pumps to boost production from these zones to a level approaching the productivity index of a higher or highest productivity zone in the interval. Therefore all production zones in the interval will produce at the higher or highest productivity zone of the interval.

A method for increasing production from a borehole comprises determining what a productivity index is for at least a plurality of zones A-D in an interval 16. Where a zone is determined to have a lower productivity index than other zones in the interval 16, that zone or zones will be fitted with pumps to boost production to closer to whatever the higher productivity indexes are for other zones in the interval. Pumping may be by electric submersible pumps, magnetohydrodynamic pumps or other pumps as desired.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1

A borehole system including a completion in a borehole; an interval of the borehole having a plurality of productivity zones therein, at least one of the zones being a lower productivity zone and at least one of the zones being a higher productivity zone; a pump connected to the at least one lower productivity zone of the interval and configured to bring production from the lower productivity zone to a production capacity of the higher productivity zone of the interval.

Embodiment 2

The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the pump is connected directly to an inlet port of the lower productivity zone.

Embodiment 3

The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the system includes at least two lower productivity zones and at least two pumps, one connected to one of the at least two lower productivity zones and another connected to the other of the at least two lower productivity zones.

Embodiment 4

The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the interval includes multiple zones each having a different productivity index and wherein each zone having a lower productivity index than a highest productivity index of the interval is connected to a pump configured to boost the associated lower productivity index zone to the production capacity of the highest productivity index zone.

Embodiment 5

The system as in any prior embodiment further including a filtration arrangement.

Embodiment 6

The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the filtration arrangement is a screen.

Embodiment 7

The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump.

Embodiment 8

The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the pump is a magnetohydrodynamic pump.

Embodiment 9

A method for increasing production from a borehole including determining a productivity index for at least two zones of a plurality of production zones in an interval of the borehole; operably coupling a pump to at least one of the plurality of production zones that exhibits a lower productivity index than at least one zone of the plurality of production zones that exhibits a higher productivity index; and boosting production through the pump of the lower productivity zone to produce at a rate of the higher productivity zone.

Embodiment 10

The method as in any prior embodiment further including operably coupling a second pump to a second one of the plurality of production zones and boosting production from the second zone to produce at a rate of the higher productivity zone.

Embodiment 11

The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the boosting is by pumping with an electric submersible pump.

Embodiment 12

The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the boosting is by magnetically pumping fluid.

Embodiment 13

The method as in any prior embodiment further including filtering a production fluid at least from the zone or zones having a lower productivity index.

Embodiment 14

The method as in any prior embodiment further including filtering production fluid from all production zones.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A borehole system comprising: a completion in a borehole; an interval of the borehole having a plurality of productivity zones therein, at least one of the zones being a lower productivity zone and at least one of the zones being a higher productivity zone; a pump connected to the at least one lower productivity zone of the interval and configured to bring production from the lower productivity zone to a production capacity of the higher productivity zone of the interval.
 2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pump is connected directly to an inlet port of the lower productivity zone.
 3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system includes at least two lower productivity zones and at least two pumps, one connected to one of the at least two lower productivity zones and another connected to the other of the at least two lower productivity zones.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interval includes multiple zones each having a different productivity index and wherein each zone having a lower productivity index than a highest productivity index of the interval is connected to a pump configured to boost the associated lower productivity index zone to the production capacity of the highest productivity index zone.
 5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a filtration arrangement.
 6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the filtration arrangement is a screen.
 7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump.
 8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pump is a magnetohydrodynamic pump.
 9. A method for increasing production from a borehole comprising: determining a productivity index for at least two zones of a plurality of production zones in an interval of the borehole; operably coupling a pump to at least one of the plurality of production zones that exhibits a lower productivity index than at least one zone of the plurality of production zones that exhibits a higher productivity index; and boosting production through the pump of the lower productivity zone to produce at a rate of the higher productivity zone.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including operably coupling a second pump to a second one of the plurality of production zones and boosting production from the second zone to produce at a rate of the higher productivity zone.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the boosting is by pumping with an electric submersible pump.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the boosting is by magnetically pumping fluid.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including filtering a production fluid at least from the zone or zones having a lower productivity index.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including filtering production fluid from all production zones. 